As we inch closer and closer to Opening Day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. World Baseball Classic update
Another handful of games are on the docket for the World Baseball Classic today: Team Australia takes on Team Korea at 9pm CST, while Team Panama faces off against Team Netherlands at 10pm CST. Team Italy will face Team Cuba at 5am CST as well, but surely the game that will grab the most attention occurs at 4am CST, when Team Japan, with two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani on the mound, will face Team China. Australia vs. Korea and China vs. Japan will both be aired on FS1, while Panama vs. Netherlands will air on FS2 and Italy vs. Cuba can be live-streamed on Tubi.
2. deGrom to face hitters today:
Rangers GM Chris Young told reporters, including Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, that ace Jacob deGrom is set to throw live batting practice today for the first time this spring, as he’s been slowed by tightness in his side since the beginning of camp. Should today go well, Grant notes the likely next step would be for deGrom to begin pitching in spring games. Young has said the Rangers expect their newly signed ace to be ready for Opening Day, but Rangers fans will surely be keeping a close eye on how today’s session goes.
3. MLBTR chats today
MLBTR is excited to continue its live player chat series by welcoming three-time All Star Dan Haren for a live chat with readers at 6:30pm CT. Haren, who played for the Cardinals, A’s, Diamondbacks, Angels, Nationals, Dodgers, Marlins, and Cubs during his 13-year MLB career, posted a 3.75 ERA (109 ERA+) with a 3.78 FIP while racking up 2,013 strikeouts over his 2,419 2/3 career innings of work. The best stretch of his career came from 2007-2009, when Haren made three consecutive trips to the All Star game, posting a 3.21 ERA (139 ERA+) and 3.31 FIP in 668 innings of work that culminated in a fifth place finish in Cy Young award voting in 2009. Haren is currently working for the Diamondbacks, where he holds the title of “pitching strategist” in their baseball operations department.
At 5pm CT, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting his weekly Wednesday chat, where you can ask any pressing questions you may have regarding your favorite team or the larger baseball world. Click this link to ask a question in advance or participate live.
Dan Haren. Awesome.
Was fun watching the WBC last night.
Team china vs team Japan
Good lord Japan could win that one 30-0
A K/BB specialist!
Who got me home early many a night. Dude stayed on the hill and threw strikes.
Dan Haren. A stud! These MLBTR chats with formers are amazing.
I have to admit that I’ve never heard of any of the former players that have done chats, but I find their stories interesting.
If you’re a younger fan or new to baseball, it’s great that this series is introducing you to players from the past (not-so-distant past in Haren’s case). Haren was dominant for a few years back with the DBacks.
deGrom being hurt is as reliable as Christmas being celebrated on December 25th this year.
That’s the issue with old people. You not only have to worry about real injuries, like a shoulder, lat, elbow, but you have to worry about age-related nicks like hammies, obliques, etc.
“Old people” LOL. What is he 35? I’ve got underwear and socks older than that!
There’s a difference between baseball age and the age of the people in the produce department of your local grocery store, and you know that… 35 is baseball old, 35 is especially old for pitching.
Sure there is a difference as you explain. My comment was to a post that didn’t bother to characterize or explain but just said “old people” and under any definition, 35 is not an “old people (or person”).
Had the post said “old pitcher” your point would be valid but, it didn’t, so why are you bothering?
My “old” comment was only a little bit tongue-in-cheek. But in context of a baseball player, and that is the context we are working in here, 35 is old.
If this was “Accountant Trade Rumors”, then you would be correct.
But it isn’t.
Joe, could be but maybe don’t use a word like “people” which actually does cover all humans on the planet next time.
Ok Joe but next time maybe reconsider your options when you only want to reference a select group of “people” don’t use such a choice of words as “with old people” when you really only intend to mean the small select group of professional athletes.
I really wouldn’t call him “old” and Suzuki is dealing with an oblique injury if I’m not mistaken and he is far from “old” even by baseball standards.
I would say the bigger issue is that the human body is not designed to throw a baseball 100 mph (or swing a baseball bat as viciously as guys do). Actually, I think throwing a baseball 100 mph isn’t the cause as much as throwing breaking pitches with the same arm angle and intensity as throwing 100 mph fastball.
You can be considered an ace if you never pitch (deGrom)
NO link to ask questions early of Dan Haren.
Well, that blows.
Guess I’m out…..
Wtf is a Tubi
The thing you pull behind your boati in summertime?
Depends on how you pronounce it. Too-bee – media outlet Tuh-bee – my ex.
Not a big social media follower myself, though Haren’s @ithrow88 Twitter handle is definitely among my favorites.
Good guest list so far this week!
Texas fans now get to live the daily DeGrom watch that those of us in New York went through the last three years. Every ache and pain will be agonized over. You will wait with dread between each BP session or start for news of an injury. And you don’t know if he will be ready by opening day despite your GM saying he will be.
He reminds me now of a 1960s import sports car. When it works, it’s a thrilling ride, Unfortunately, it spends most of the time in the shop under repair.
DeGrom is hurt again. Shocker.
so the WBC…be nice to have a daily place where we can all chat about games on MLBTR.
The horn!!!!!….that was annoying…sounds like they finally found the guy and it stopped. We were going nuts was about to turn the volume off!
2nd base umpire… Watching Australia v/s Korea. they have runnwrs on 1st and 3rd.What the hells going on with that? He is blocking the pitcher you could only see his top half. the ump was in the way and was doing some shimmy dance when the ball is pitched. Quite annoying!
he doesnt need to be on the screen…period…He is the crew chief? Please somebody fix this!